Job offer

T

thank you mandi.

I'd say 20% more than your salary in Bahrain, which should be somewhat comparable.

Mandi

its al ahli hospital in doha.

I'll email you.

Mandi

Hi Mandi, Do you mind giving me your email, I wanted to ask you more about qatar. my email is [email protected]. thanks.

What's the name of the company here in Qatar who recently hire you?

Hi guys!!

I recently got a job offer in Doha, Qatar. However I have no idea of the salary and benefits I should ask from the employer. I am a physiotherapist here in the Philippines and working as such for more than ten(10) years. I also worked as a physiotherapist in Bahrain for two years. Can you give me any idea what would be my fair salary in order for me to consider the job offer?

Thank you!!

Thank you Mandi.

Oh, yes, my husband was interviewed May 1 (and offered the job) and we came Jan 6! It took until mid-October for a formal offer.

Mandi

Thank you Mandi. So it means we should hold our horses. I guess also after agreeing the terms, there is another waiting. so the whole process could take up to a year.

Well, I guess I've heard up to four to six months. They just never seem to be in a big hurry.

Mandi

Thank you for the reply. approximately how many months could it take for the HR department to process the offer letter.

Oh, it can take months.

Mandi

Hi,

My husband was interviewed by Hamad medical cooperation in April and was told he was successful. he has not recieved any email or offer letter yet. How long does the process takes, and also what kind of family accomodation do they provide? we have two kids. thanks.

Thanks n_minie

Thanks n_minie

I believe your designation will have certain type of levels / grade. Depending on your nationalities & grades you will be entitled for x number / amount of benefits. I believe it's all written since you mentioned is a big company. It'kinda standard employees benefits. The only difference is your base salary. Since the company provides you the accomodation & education, with that kind of salary am sure you will be able to save. Even more than enough to take you & your family for a nice vacation. Am saying this because I know people who earn less than you & still be able to do so.

Before you think of accepting the offer, you really have to think whether it's worthwhile leaving your home country to come here. Weather here can be very hot. If $$ yr your main motivating factor, then by all means take the offer & start a new journey here.

• Excellent inter personal and presentation skills. In addition I am hard working, result oriented, and respond well to challenges

• Excellent inter personal and presentation skills. In addition I am hard working, result oriented, and respond well to challenges

Contract type is a requirement of Qatar labour law.

Just like me. I'm on permanent employment but I will be required to sign every 2 years.

This contract is there to safe guard employees as the labour law requires the company to pay a "gratuity" of 21 days salary for every year of work.

Hi Tech,

When they say "successfully mobilized", it means to say that you successfully gets your RP, visa, etc.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Your offer letter is sent through email. The company may or may not ask you to go for a medical in your home country and email them the results. But it doesn't count for much other than for the insurance which your company may purchase.

Your company will apply for a work visa for you. But when you are here, you still need to go thru medical checks, finger printing, etc for the Resident Permit (RP). Now this can be tricky. Normally, it should be OK but there are cases whereby the application for RP is rejected when the X-Ray shows some very small image which they don't understand and require you to go for other checks and eventually still rejects you. Or the finger printing cannot produce good enough images repeatedly and they just reject you.

These are some incidents whereby RPs cannot be approved and there is nothing much the company can do.

So when all is cleared, you can then be successfully mobilized.

Hope this helps to clarify.

Hi Tech,

I came in November 2011.

For car loan, I got it from QNB which is where my company opened the account for all our employees.

Vehicle loans are generally 80% of car price but QNB handled it for me with the 20% on personal loan at the same interest rate.

So all in, I bought a car for slightly above 150,000 QAR and pays slightly less than 3,700 QAR per month for 4 years.

The other way is to get a personal loan and buy the car which you want. Personal loan are generally over 3 years repayment period.

Banks normally ask for 6 months pay slip but I got my loan in late January 2012, less than 3 months. It also depends on the company you're working for.

If you go for rental, 2,000 QAR will only get you an average 1600 to 1800 cc saloon or a relatively old SUV. I've considered that but feels that it's not really a good option.

But it's up to you.

Neither do I, tech, and that's what worries me.

Mandi

If I will have no other contract then why they told me so, and it is written in my current one page offer letter that once I am successfully mobilized then I will sign another contract contains all benefits. Also the current offer letter says contract type: 3yrs, probationary period: 3 to 6 months.

Now I don't know what exactly they meant by the term "successfully mobilized"?

Based on my experience, even though I am under family visa, the contract stated everything about my salary package including yearly tickets and terms and conditions during my tenure in the company. In my opinion, you'll not have any other contract aside from the one that they are going to give you. However, during promotion (this is actually another issue) that will be the time that you're going to receive an additional papers stating your amended renumeration package.

Kindly note, I am not an HR staff so you better ask who's really in charged of this matter to give you an accurate feedback. You should keep in mind as well that the company here in Doha have different policies and procedures, in other words they are not uniformed when it comes to renumeration package.

Good idea!

Mandi

Now simply I will write to their HR and clear all my confusions and get all my questions answered before I move to Qatar.

You could call their HR and see if you will be able to bring your family straight away. If not, that's another big red flag that they are treating you like a second-class citizen. Believe me, American workers for good American companies get everything right up front, including guaranteed places at schools.

Mandi

Youch, that DOES sound like a red flag. No, I haven't see that before. You may want to PM Qatarisun, she's an HR person and very experienced and savvy about Qatar. I sure would be afraid that you couldn't bring your family until after six months and with a company that stipulates so much on probation I'd fear their whim during that six months as well.

Mandi

Thanks EH, they had sent me written document stating all benefits and monthly salary before sending me formal signed offer letter.

Now in the offer letter there were no benefits listed but just monthly salary. When I asked them about why other benefits not listed in the offer letter. They replied saying that in the offer letter we just mentioned the basic salary and transport allowance, but when you have successfully mobilized with the company there is another contract contains all benefits.

Does it all make sense to you? I would not say that they will cheat me after probation period, as they are big company but just wanted second opinion from a person like you. Thanks

As far as I know you should acquire the written contract stating all your renumeration package and the payment package will start upon the commencement of your work, but still you need to undergo on 6 months probation as per the law of all the companies here. It's your discretion then if you want to bring your family with you upon arrival or you need to stabilized your job first.

EH, I am concerned that what does exactly means by "after successfully mobilized" is this mean after completion of probationary period? And if it is correct then does this mean it can take up to 6 months before my family can join me in Qatar?

OMG, it's a matter of luck though,lol:)

Thanks Mandi and EH, I would certainly take this in account.

Can you please also comment on "probationary period" when starting employment with the company. In my offer letter it is written that probationary period is 3 to 6 months and I will be signing the contract after successfully mobilized.

Ps. That contract which I will sign after successfully mobile will have all those benefits.

Is this normal?

thanks

No reservations available for any British school this fall. The waiting lists are reportedly over 1,000 long!

Mandi

You're correct Mandi.

@Tech2010, you should've consider as well your child/children's school status. As early as possible you need to inquire about the school and make the reservation for the incoming school year this September.

EH, I'd have to add that you really need to be making a considerable amount more in order to make up for the disruption to you and your children's lives, the uncertainty of any job tenure in the Gulf and the expense and hassle of being away from family. You do know that it is not only expensive but nigh unto impossible to get kids into a British school here? If you are disappointed in ANY way or uncertain about ANY factor in your offer, please do not take this job. It's only worth it if: 1) Your offer is jaw-dropping. 2) You are following and contributing to a vision that transcends self and remuneration. Some of us do the latter.

Mandi

Well, It all depends on your experience, current designation and your educational qualification. Anyhow, try to analize your gross/take home salary in Uk against your gross salary from here and check the difference. If you think that you will gain and save more from here, then accept the offer, as simple as that.

ok yes thats even better, I guess they sort it out themselves i don't have to worry. Do you honestly think this is the fair offer and should go for it or wait for something better, bearing this in mind that Qatar is very expensive.

As far as I know, the company is the one responsible in opening the account for their employees. Anyway, let the HR in-charge clarify the matter with you as every company has their own policy.

Much appriciated Enormous Hear, thanks. I would not go for Rent-a-Car option as I am not worried about the first month as company will be staying me at Hotel and will be responsible for pick and drop until they move me at company's accomodation.

Once I move into accomodation I can then initally look for public transport or company bus service or may be as your car loan after few months.

Do I have to open bank account in Qatar, I mean can my UK bank account should not be enough for these kind of thinks. I bank with Barclays and HSBC here in UK. thanks

Are you in a Managerial position and in which/what company did you receive the offer? If that offer came from the Q company here and you are in a Managerial position then your salary is kinda low. Passport and nationality here means a lot, you must negotiate for more if you knew that your experience is capable enough to ask and demand for more:)

You should obtain your Resident Permit before you can buy a car here. however, since you are a British national as stated in your profile you can try the Rent-a-car here with your driving license for a certain period of time or until you convert your UK license into Qatar license.

There are many ways to own a car here, it's either through cash and/or through loan scheme, whichever suits your budget. The car prices are ranging from QAR 40k to QAR 150,000, again it's up to your budget. For the car loan scheme: You can have the car loan until 4 years maximum, anyhow try Doha Bank but you should obtain at least 3 months salary to be credited to the said bank, letter addressed to bank as well as the salary certificate which can be obtained from your current employer. The rest, you can ask the bank itself, perhaps they have change their procedure and requirements regarding this matter.

In addition, you can try Al-Muftah rent-a-car during your first month here which might cost you not more than QAR 100/day depending on the car model or you can try the taxi here as well.

Enormous Heart, would you put some light on buying car & pricing. What is the prefered mode of buying card gernerally in Qatar. And is it cash payment or installment. I think my company can give intrest free car load or something like that.

Oh well, that's good enough since the accommodation and kids education are covered in the salary package.

You're absolutely right!

Thanks Enormous, although I was expecting more salary but as you said since the accommodation and kids education are covered so seems not bad deal.

Also, apart from money, I believe if company is big and known then ones profiles get much better as well, and adds good experience in CV.

Thanks everyone for your response. I am not in managerial position but aim is to work hard and step on that ledder at some point in life. I would not disclose the company.

I had already negotiated with them and this was the last offer they made.#

Mackydmac, I am from north london, where about you in UK? your package seems much better. Did they offer you accomodation?

Enormous has pretty good practical numbers. You can scale down a bit and probably save more than 13K. Remember, don't forget to take into account of traveling costs since your family need to get out every few months to recharge.

Thanks Enormous Heart for the detail reply. I believe these expenses you listed are based on the whole family not just one adult.

So what is the answer then is this good offer? should I accept this? This may sound silly question but I have no idea about Qatar life. thanks

you are so lucky,,, and what position you applying for? and w/c company?

Here are the possible expenses that you might encounter during your tenure here in Qatar:

Grocery. > QAR 3,500

Infant Milk > QAR 500

Normal resto 250x10 > QAR 2,500

School bus per sem > QAR 1,500

Car Installment > QAR 2,000

Miscellaneous > QAR 1,000

=========

QAR 11,000

If you have a gross monthly salary with an amount of 24 k - 11,000, you stillhave QAR 13,000 savings every month. The prices above may be vary from one restaurant, grocery store and school to another (+ some unexpected expenses like shopping). I hope that the above probable costs might help you decide about your offer.